The works of George Swinnock, M.A

When the true Israelite can firmly credit the testimony which God hath given of Jesus the Son of Joseph, how he being an enemy, was reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and shall much more, being reconciled, be saved by his life, and by faith can cling on him, his heart, though dying, is then enlivened; O with what comfort can he take his journey into the other world! When Philip viewed his young Son Alexander, Now, saith he, I am content to dye. Old Simeon springs young again, at a sight of Christ, and having embraced his Saviour in the arms of faith, as well as in the arms ⟨p. 639⟩of his body, he begs a dismission out of this valley of tears, being assured thereby of an admission into fullness of joy; Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. ¹Having with an eye of faith beheld Christ, he counts his life but a bondage, and desires to depart or be loosed from fetters, as the word signifieth, and is taken, Mat. 27. 17. We read of the Lords worthies, that by faith they stopped the mouths of Lions; Death is a fierce and cruel Lion, but faith will pull out its teeth, that it cannot hurt us; or stop its mouth, that it shall not devour us. This grace, like the Angel sent from Heaven, when Daniel was cast into the Lions Den, will save the Christian from being torn in pieces.

When the true Israelite can firmely credit the testimony which God hath given of Iesus the Son of Ioseph, how he being an enemy, was reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and shall much more, being reconciled, be saved by his life, and by faith can cling on him, his heart, though dying, is then enlivened; O with what comfort can he take his journey into the other world! When Philip viewed his young Son Alexander, Now, saith he, I am content to dye. Old Simeon springs young again, at a sight of Christ, and having embraced his Saviour in the armes of faith, as well as in the armes ⟨p. 639⟩of his body, he begs a dismission out of this valley of tears, being assured thereby of an admission into fulness of joy; Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.